Monitoring and Evaluation of the Neglected Tropical Disease Programme in Ekiti State, Southwest Nigeria

Monitoring and evaluation frameworks are essential for assessing the effectiveness of neglected tropical disease control programmes and guiding resource allocation decisions. This study evaluated the monitoring and evaluation systems of the Ekiti State Neglected Tropical Disease Programme, focusing on lymphatic filariasis, schistosomiasis, and soil-transmitted helminthiases. A programme assessment framework was applied using document review of programme reports from 2020 to 2024, structured interviews with programme officers, and analysis of mass drug administration coverage data across 16 local government areas. Coverage data were disaggregated by age, sex, and local government area for equity analysis. Programme records indicated an average mass drug administration coverage of 61.3 percent across targeted diseases, below the WHO elimination threshold. Data quality assessment revealed inconsistencies in register completion and high rates of missing data at the ward level. Supervision frequency was inversely associated with data incompleteness. Female residents and children aged 5 to 14 years were systematically undercovered in most local government areas. The study recommends adoption of digital data collection tools, structured supervisory checklists, and targeted community mobilisation strategies to address coverage gaps and improve data quality in Ekiti State's neglected tropical disease programme. Keywords: neglected tropical diseases, monitoring and evaluation, mass drug administration, lymphatic filariasis, Ekiti State.